Mechanisms of the mu opioid receptor-mediated cholinergic activity in the nucleus accumbens

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25463100
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: SAIGUSA Tadashi 日本大学, 松戸歯学部, 教授 (50277456)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): UCHIDA Takuya 日本大学, 歯学部, 助教 (10409104)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 麻薬性鎮痛薬 / オピオイド / アセチルコリン / ドパミン / ノルアドレナリン / ラット / 脳微小透析法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nucleus accumbens (NAc) is one of the terminal areas of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons that project from the ventral tegmental area. NAc contains cholinergic neurons and animal experiments have shown that selective depletion of these neurons impairs cognitive function, including memory. Opioids are applied to control persistent pain and amnesia is a recognised adverse effect. There are three subtypes of opioid receptors: mu, delta and kappa. Accumbal cholinergic neurons express delta and mu receptors that are thought to exert inhibition of cholinergic activity. In the present study, we analysed the roles of delta and mu receptors in the regulation of accumbal acetylcholine efflux of freely moving rats by using in vivo microdialysis. We also studied the noradrenaline-dopamine interaction in the nucleus accumbens.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学